Can forming machine



Jan. 24, 1939. M E. M'OQRE GAN FORMING MACHINE 4 sheetsLsheet 1 Filed Oct. 6. 1936 @24,1939 MAE. MORE 2,145,125

CAN FORMING MACHINE I 4 sheets-shee 2 Filed oct. e, 1936 Gnome Jan. 24, 1939. M E Moog-E 2,145,125

GAN FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1956 `4 Sheeizs-SheetA I 45 l 40 45 49 45 50 49 i? f* 46 4Q H 4 I.; 46

41 4 v 5\ f5 G 55 Q, 25 Q N j 25 K I 5] 61313 20 y .lggjg y 54' F'Ogzlo 55 55 i 40 @ada 45 45 45 H 46 49 Il 49 47 l 51 4f' 4572 26 26 52 .2 6 I l. Z6 Z G 4Z G 55 Q 0 g- ,6' 6 \l \l 261A, l l 19 20 25 @2015 111912 jf 4329 "a Y C' 52 I Z El 2623-6 1925- v2627.22' I* .14,- 42- 3mm f7 z .aa

' l :Mar/f Mw-re Patented Jan. 24, i939 UNITED STATES --PATENT ol-rlcisziV I CAN ronzlzmncmm v l Mark E. Moore, MZYWOU, nl. Application October 6, :6;1i4a6l)No. 104,301 l o 'I'he invention relates 4generally to the art of can making and has for an object to provideanew and improved apparatus for forming seamless cans. In its more detailed nature the invention-resides in'the provision of a novel can forming apparatus in vwhich the can shaping channel or die .opening is formed by a plurality of rollers rotatable in unison in planes intersecting theaxis of said opening, and in which a plurality of blankl holding and Apre-shaping rings successively press a blank against the rollers, after which a the partially shaped blanks through the' rollers while they are being rotated whereby to subject the blank to a combination drawing and rolling engagement .ultimately forming said blank into a seamless can including an integral bottom. With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear. the invention further.

resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts particularly pointed out in the following detailed descriptionand the appended claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Y Figure. 1 is a. frontelevation and part section illustrating a can formingmachine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the ma.

chin shown in Figure 1, forming rollers,

Figure 4' is a sid'e elevation of one of mounting and spacing. segments,.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the segment shown in AFigure 4,

the roller `Figure 6 is a side elevati-on ofmy improved forni oi' can body,

' Figure 7 is a vertical cross section of the can Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 on Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a. horizontal section taken on the y line 9-9 on Figure 2,

Figure 10 -is a diagrammatic sectional" view of plunger forces Figure 3 is a detail plan view of one of the Figure 13 is aview similar to Figure 12 with the lplunger ring equipment lowered to the point at which the innermost ring Vsection exercises its pre-shaping function, and

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 illus- 5' trating the plunger as lowered to its maximum position and the shell elevated to its maximum position, the rollers having been rotated by said shell for cooperating with the descending plunger in the final forming operation. In the drawings in which likeV numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the iigures, S-designates the base portion ofthe machine, 6

' the bed, I the superstructure side standards which assembled to form amounting for the draw ring v the caniorming parts of the machine 4 with'the canforming rings and plunger elevated` and a can blank supported 'on the forming rollers,

Figure 1111s a view similar to Figure 10 with the plunger and ring equipment lowered into the position in which the outermost ring section grips the blank upon the rollers,

Figure 12 1s a view similar to Figure 11v showing the plunger and 4ring equipment lowered to the point where the intermediate ring exercises its pre-shaping function. i

are joined by a crosslweb 8, and 9 la pair of paral- 15 lel spaced cheek plates suitably supported upon the frame superstructure. It is to be understood that any suitable fornrof press framestructure .may be employed to suppprt `the novel mechanismembodied in my 'improved machine. 20

The frame standards 1 provide suitablebea're ings for the power shaft I0 on which is carried an inner pair of crank vdiscs I I including the crank portion I2. 'I'he discs Il are provided in their A outer faces with suitable cam grooves I3. The '25 shaft I0 also'carries an outer pair of cam discs I4 having suitablecam grooves I5 in their inner faces and a driver sprocket I6 which may be dis. posed inside or outside the frame. Theshaft is also extended as at I1 for connection with vany 30 suitable power applying means (not shown);

The bed 6 is recessedas at I8 to receive a g mount-ing ring I9 which embraces a'plurality of spaced bearing segments. 20, see Figures 4, 5 and 8. Each of the segments is provided at its companion segment opposing surfaces with individual hub recesses 2I. The segments also each include a ring seat 22 f or tting the mounting ring I9, a draw ring seat 23, and a rack clearance cut-out` portion 24. The segment seats 23 cooperate when 40 25, as show n in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The forming rollers 26 each include bearing trunnions 21 receivable in the segment recesses o 2|- and which'jare surrounded by ball bearings 28 45 Apacked in heavy grease when the rollers and segments are assembled, as shown in Figure 8. The rollers are provided with concave/can forming peripheral portions 30 collectively forming a circular shaping channel or die opening, and it 50 Vwill be observed that the individual planes of rota- -tion'of the rollers all intersect the axis of this opening. Each roller also includes a gear sector II which extends from the one side face ofthe .y roller. through approximately one-third of. the 55 peripherylthereot The pitch line of each. sector the shell and roller movement will onform properly with the movement of the plunger.

A roller actuating shell or ring 32 surrounds the roller assembly and is provided with a plurality of racks 33, one thereof being positioned to mesh with each of the roller gear sectors as shown in Figures 2 and 8. The shell lisl carried by a pair of arms 34 guided in grooves 35 formed in the outer faces of the cheek plates 9 .and equipped at their upper ends with rollers 36 operable in the grooves I5 of the cam discs I4.

The inner faces of the cheek plates 9 are greoved as at 31 to slidably receive the cross head 38 which isconnected by a pitman 39 with the disc crank I2 and which carries the forming plunger 40. The plunger 40 is suitably shaped at its lower end as at 4I to suitably shape the bottom end of the can, and is provided with an air duct 42 to break the vacuum which would otherwise be created by removal of a formed ca n from the plunger, thus facilitating delivery of the formed can.

Surrounding the plunger 40 and movable at times therewith is a ring head 43 including an inner ring blank forming portion 44 and a head flange 45. An intermediate blank forming ring 46 and an outer blank holding ring 41 are yieldably suspended from the head flange 45 on mounting pins 48, coil springs 49 being interposed between said rings and flange for normally holding the rings in the position illustrated in Figure 10 ofthe drawings.`

The holding and pre-shaping ring assemblies 43, `46, 41 are supported on rods 50 which pass upwardly through accommodating openings in the cross rod 38 and connect with the slide head 5I which is guided in the inner grooves 39 formed in the cheek plates 9. wardly from the slide grooves I3 formed in II.

A can bottom forming plunger 53 is provided and has its upper end 54 shaped to cooperate with the plunger end 4I in shaping the bottom of the can. The plunger 53 is suitably guided as at '55 and is equipped with a roller 56 engaged by a cam 51. for lifting and lowering the plunger in timed relation to the main forming plunger 40. AThe cam 51 is mounted upon a shaft 58 having' rotative bearing in the base frame and which includes the driven sprocket 59 to which rotation vis imparted through the transmission chain 60 from the driver sprocket I6.

head and operate in the the cam and crank plates The operation of my improved machine and the steps of my improved method are diagram- '.matically illustrated in Figures 10 through 14.

In the first step in the method and the operation of the machine a blank B is positioned upon the rollers 26 as shown in Figure l0. The shaft Ill is continuously rotated. but the discs II Vand I4 are provided with a dwell portion so that the parts have a period of rest in the position shown in this figure. The first movement is a collective movement downwardly of the plunger 4I! and the collection of rings 44, 46, and 41, and Figure 1l illustrates the rst contact, it being that -of the outermost ring 41 with the roller supported blank, serving to hold theblank against the rollers.

Upon continued movement downwardly of the plunger and ring equipments the outermost ring` plunger pressures. exerted at Rollers 52.project inscribed and the plunger 40 and rings 44 and 46 will move to 'the position shown in Figure 12 in which the intermediate ring 46 exercises its function of pre-shaping the can blank against the supporting surfaces of the rollers.

Upon continued movement downwardly of the 40 and the remaining ring portion 43, the latter will assume the position illustrated in Figure 11i` and will exert its pre-shaping pressure against the canblank and the supporting rollers.

By the successive contacts of the pre-shaping rings above described the blank is pre-shaped into a substantially frusto-coniform shape by circular areas successively inwardly of thel clamped periphery. In this manner the pre-shaping of the blank is formed without excessive center strain or metal distortion and this manner of shaping contributes much toward the formation of a one-piecefseamless can, the integral bottom of vwhich is not subjected to lweakening strains and metal distortion. v

timethe dwell in the cam grooves I6 is about exhausted and these grooves are to become effective to lift the shell 32 as shown in Figures l and 2. At the same time the dwell in the disc grooves I3 becomes effective and the holding and is being raised to impart rotation to the forming y rollers 26. composite drawing Thus the can body is formed by a and rolling contact. The surface speed ofthe rollers being substantially that of the opposed surfaces of the plunger 40, the metal of the can blank will not be subjected to any sliding contact and because of the fact that the said walls of the blankare tightly gripped between the rollers and the opposed plunger surfaces the blank will not be subjected to any strain and distortion across the integral bottom forming wall.

The ultimate position of the parts upon completion of the actual can shaping isshown in Figure 14. The can, as formed, is forced through the draw ring 25but it is to be .understood that this ring is not necessary and with if desired.

As the plunger 40 reaches the lower limit of its stroke it is opposed by the bottom forming plunger 53 and after the shaping parts return to may be dispensed their normal position, as shown in Figure 10, the

bottom forming plunger 53, is returned to'its lowered position and the formed can is discharged into the receiving chute 6I, as shown in Figure 2.

In Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated my improved can which includes the side walls 62 and rthe `integral bottom 63 shaped by the .opposed plungers 4I and .":4 ins any suitable manner as illustrated at 64.

If desired, the portion of each roller which doesnot actually contact with andform the can blank may be made flat or cylindrical as at 65 (see Figure 3) and presented for rolling contact with bearing rails 66 mounted in the shell 32 as shown in Figure 8. Thus each roller will roll between Y the plunger carried blank and the shell inthe manner in which one rolls a pencil between the palms of oppositely moving hands, thus' relieving the bearings of strains.

My improved machine may also be employed in the formation of tubes such as are mounted upon the cylinders used in rotogravure work, or tubes essary to form such tubes is to shape the blanks 'as hereinbefore described and thenremove' the bottoms from the units formed as shownin Figures 6 and 7 thus transforming them into tubes.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variouslychanged and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. If desired a square or oblong plunger and die rollers of complementary shape can be employed sol that cans other than the more common cylindrical type can be formed.

I claim: Y

1. In can forming apparatus, a generally toroidal blank support formed of .a plurality of rollers arranged so that their peripheries define a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed, means movable toward and from said support and operative in successive stages for pre-shaping said blank in generally frusto-con'iform shape and for thereafter forcing `sai-id pre-shaped blank through said opening to complete the can formation, and means for rotating the rollers during the forcing of the preshaped blankl therethrough.

2. In can forming apparatus, a generally toroi- 2,145,125 used for various other purposes. All that is necconcaved peripheries collectively defining the opening and positioned with their planes of rotation intersecting the axis of said opening, means for forcing a blank onto said rollers and through said opening including a plurality'of rings successively engageable to press a blank into conformity with the engaged contour of said rollers anda central plunger movable with and through said rings -for forcing the blank through said opening to complete the can formation, and

means for holding the rollers stationary during dal blank support formed of a pluralityof rollersY arranged so that their peripheries dene a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed, means movable toward and from said support and operative in successive stages for pre-shaping said blank in generally frusta-coniform shape and for thereafter forcing said pre-shaped blank through said opening to com plete the can formation, said means including concentric rings engageable with the blank successively and a central plunger for forcing the pre-shaped blank through said opening to complete the can formation, and means for rotating thejroll'ers during the forcing of the preshaped blank therethrough.

3. In can forming apparatus, a generally toroi-` dal blank support defining a central opening of i `the size of a can-to-be-formed, and-means mov-- able toward and from said support and operative in successive stages for pre-shaping said blankvin generally frusto-coniform shape and for thereafter forcing said pre-shaped blank 'through said opening to v`complete the can formation, said means including an inner ring having a flange, an intermediate ring, and an outer ringengageable with the blank successively inwardly beginning with said outer ring', means supporting said intermediate and outer rings on said flange for yieldable engagement with a blank on saidtoroidal support, and a central plunger movable with the rings during pre-shaping of the blank and thereafter movable through said rings for forcing the pre-shaped blank through said opening to complete the can formation.

the forcing of the blank thereonto and for positively rotating the rollers during the forcing of the blank therethrough.

6. In can forming apparatus, a blank supporting means of generally toroidal shape defining a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed their planes of rotation' intersecting the axis of 30 said opening, means for forcing a blank onto said rollers and through said opening including a-plurality of rings successively engageable to' press a blank into conformity with the engaged contour of said rollers and a central plunger, and means for moving the rings and plunger together to pre- .shape the blank and `to thereafter move the plunger alone and impart rotation to said rollers to complete the shaping of the can between said `plunger and rollers.

8. `In can forming apparatus, a'multiplicity of rollers having concaved peripheries collectively dening `a forming opening and positioned with their planes of rotation intersectingv the axis of said opening, means for forcing a blank onto said rollers and through said opening including a plurality of rings successively engageable to press a blank into conformity with the engaged contour of said rollers and a central plunger, and means for -moving the rings and plunger together to preshape Athe blank and to thereafter move the plunger alone and impart rotation to said rollers to complete the shaping of the can between said plunger and rollers, said last named means including a longitudinally movable shell surrounding said rollers, racks carried by said rollers, and

gear sectors carried lone on each roller and mesh- 4. In can forming apparatus, a blank supporting means of generally toroidal shape defining a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed and comprising a multiplicity of rollers having concaved peripheries collectively defining the opening and positioned with their planes of rota- 'tion intersecting the axis of said opening, means for forcing a blank onto said rollers and 4through said opening, and means for holding the rollers stationary during the forcing of the blank thereonto and for positively rotating the rollers during the forcing of the blank therethrough.

5. In can forming apparatus, .a blank support- I ing means of generally toroidal shape defining acentral opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed and comprising a multiplicity of rollers having ing with said racks.

9. In can forming apparatus, a generally toroidal blank support formed of a plurality of rollers' arranged so that their peripheries define a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed, means movable toward and from said support and operative in successive stages for pre-shaping said blank in generally frusto-coniform shape and for thereafter forcing said pre-shaped blank through said opening to complete the can formation, means for rotating the rollers during the forcing or the preshaped blank therethrough, land a bottom plunger movable'in opposition to said forcing means for shaping the bottom of the formed can.

10. In-can forming apparatus, a blank supporting means of generally toroidal shape defining a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-formed 4 s, and comprising a multiplicity ot rollers having `concaved peripheries collectively vdefining the ing said rollers,

opening and positioned with their planes of rotation intersecting the axis of said opening, and means for imparting rotation to said rollers comprising a longitudinally movable shell surroundracks carried by said shell, and gear sectors carried one on each roller and meshing with said racks, the pitch line of each sector substantially coinciding with the diameter oi the peripheral forming portion of the roller by which it is carried.

1l. In can forming apparatus, a blank supporting means of generally toroidalshape dening a central opening of the size of a can-to-be-fonned and comprising a multiplicity of rollers having concaved peripheries collectively denning the opening and positioned with their planes ot rotaa,145,1as

tion intersecting the axis of said opening; means for imparting rotation'to said rollers comprising `a longitudinal shell surrounding said rollers, racks` carried by said shell, and gear sectors carried one on each roller and meshing with said racks, and longitudinally disposed tracks carried by the shell and presented for rolling contact by said rollers.

l2. In can forming apparatus, a blank supporting'means composed of a plurality of rollers disposed to collectively define a die opening, a plunger angles to the axes of the rollers Iorforcing a blank through said opening.. andv means io'r posiat the. same surface tively rotating the rollers speed as the plunger during the forcing oi' the blank therethrough. v

movable axially in a direction at right MARK E. MOORE. 

